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If you don't mind I've got a couple of questions, we're looking to build a new flatbed ourselves.

What size tube are you using? I'm guessing 2 1/2 or 3" 3/16 wall sq tube? Hard to say from the picts. How much weight do you plan for it to hold?

I'm also currious how much time you currently have in it at this point and will be currious to know how long in hrs it took when its all done (I'm betting more picts are coming as it moves along), as well as how much you will have into it in materials.

The last bed we made for ourselves was 6+ years ago and we built it on down time thru out the year, so it's had to say how long it took and what it really cost. We're going to have to replace the old truck this year, so I've been asked to start thinking about how long/much it would be to replicate the bed. Right now I am figureing 1K for the bed, 1k for the racks in materials (racks are moderately involved), .5-1K in misc (wire, blades, gas, tips etc. This is one area thats kinda throwing me) I'm guessing 20-40hrs for the bed / deck (simple nowhere near as complicated as yours, simple 3" C over rails) 80hrs for the racks, tiedowns, light brackets and such. I understand design and complexity figure heavily in estimating all of this. I'm not asking how long/much mine should cost, only trying to get an idea how long its taking you for what I see.

I'm trying for a reality check on production time / costs more than anything. I expect it to take us at least 2X longer than someone who welds daily, at least till we get up and running again after the first few days. Thanks

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DSW,
I have $1,700 in materials. 2"x1/8 Tubing. When it is all done, bottle racks, in bed toll boxes, lead wells and top boxes I will have around $5,500 material & labor in it. I am going to build the top boxes out of 1/8" aluminum and it will take two 4X8 sheets at $200 per sheet so that will bring the materials close to $2,000

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Thanks for the info guys. I can easily figure out how long it will take to layout and form steps, or dig, stone, pour and stamp a patio of X size, but I don't do enough large welding projects to have a good feel for this. Sounds like my preliminary estimates might not be as bad as I might think.

Finney, looking forward to seeing more of the truck compleated in the future. I'm hoping to pick up a few tricks/ ideas that we may not have thought of.